SERVPRO Stopping Mold Damage in Dallas Homes

2/1/2018 (Permalink)

Almost every piece of building material, especially drywall, can serve as a food source for mold.

SERVPRO Eliminates Mold by Stopping it at its Source

Every home in Dallas contains some level of mold spores. They are no more harmful to most people than ordinary house dust in their normal, inert state and only become an issue when they come into contact with enough moisture to cause them to expand.

Dallas mold damage happens when the now active spores begin to search for more moisture and sources of food. To do this, they extend hyphae. This structure resemble tree roots when seen under a microscope and serve the same function. Some grow quickly across surfaces, expanding the colony while others grow into the surface of building material like drywall to feed it. SERVPRO restoration teams study how this growth occurs to determine the best way to stop and eliminate it.

Most spores grow best in a range from 68 to 86 degrees. Since this is the comfort range for most households, stopping mold using cold or heat is unlikely unless the home is unoccupied.

Nearly every piece of building material in a home can be a food source. Drywall, in particular, is vulnerable to mold spores and provides a way for mold to grow in every room inside the house. Since it is impossible to replace all drywall with stone or brick, that leaves only removing the source of moisture as a way to stop mold growth.

SERVPRO technicians can do this by finding the highest concentration of mold in the home. Higher levels usually occur at sources of water and the highest is normally at the original point of expansion and growth. Often, this source is a leak from a busted pipe or a damaged connection. If it is a minor problem, we can fix or replace it ourselves. A major problem like a refitting requires a licensed plumber.

Next, remove any standing water. Our teams can do this using a combination of pumps and extractions wands. Before starting, we spray the affected areas with an anti-fungal agent to prevent contaminating other parts of the home. It prevents further property damage and reduces the chance of mold spores causing adverse health effects.

At SERVPRO of Northwest Dallas, we know the best way to halt mold growth and damage is to stop it at its source. If you suspect there may be mold in your home, contact us at (214) 361-7887 with any questions or to schedule a visit and receive a free estimate if we find there is a problem.

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